Formation-sampling apparatus



United States Patent 28 78 oomnooznn 5 57 7 5 5/ 7 l 17 Mam a n u u "m I .w New Wu C n efl mfl M0 HAD-Cd m UnXSn r. ae0 a MCCHCWL 2947839 5566666 9999999 1111111. 6296403 I 1 5804423 084067 1 11, 1 9583950 9 42703 Jfi fl i i 2233333 n .w t m r 0 C y 8 k m w m 8 W0 I n 67 M UT 99", t t W l -3 4 M MWMlZ M. 0 a. .h I fufivv wm 80 00 8 .Hnn- NNSNG I 0 de m mm 6 mime m pu -ms I AFPA I 111] 2 1253 7 2247 l. .llrtl.

Primary Examiner-David H. Brown Attorneys-Ernest R. Archambeau, Jr., William J. Beard,

David L. Moseley, Edward M. Roney, William R. Sherman and Stewart F. Moore [54] FORMATION-SAMPLING APPARATUS 21 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl..............

/78, 175/102, 175/31 ABSTRACT: The particular embodiment described herein as [511] illustrative of the invention is directed to formation-sampling 107v apparatus for collecting one or more samples of earth forma- E2lb 49/06 [50] Field 175/77, 78

tions traversed by a borehole. To accomplish this, the disclosed borehole apparatus includes means adapted for agitat- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1940 Tata1ovieh.........

ing or vibrating these samples once they are freed from the earth formations to facilitate their continued passage into a sample receiver on the apparatus.

Paitentefd Nov. 24, 1970' Sheet 1 0:3

FIG. 2 B

Harold J. Urbqnosky IN VE N TOR A T TORNE Y Pat ent ed' Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet g or a [N VE N TOR Harold J. Urbanosky ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,143

Sheet 3 of 3 Harold J. Urbanosk y IN VE N TOR A T TORNE Y FGRMATION-SAMPLING APPARATUS Various tools have recently been introduced in the oil industry for obtaining elongated samples of earth formations traversed by a borehole. For example, tools such as those shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,173,500 and 3,405,772have been proposed for obtaining single samples of a substantial length. In these tools, a pair of rotatable outwardly-convergingcutting wheels are cooperatively arranged to be extended outwardly and cuttheir way into an adjacent formation. Then, as they are slowly raised, the cutting wheels cut a single elongated wedge-shaped formation sample out of the borehole wall. This individual sample is caught by the tool and returned to the surface.

On the other hand, new and improved tools such as those shown in two previous [1.8. Pat. applications (e.g., Ser. No. 649,976, filed June 29, 1967, now'U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,716 and Ser. No. 765,383, filed Oct. 7, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,525,407) by the present inventor have also been proposed for successively collecting a plurality of such elongated formation samples during a single trip into a borehole. In these tools, a pair of convergent cutting wheels are adapted to be cyclically operated so that, by merely repositioning the tool in a. borehole, a generally wedge-shaped sample will be obtained Those skilled in the art will appreciate, of course, that the nature of most, if not all, earth formations will usually preclude the recovery of integral or unbroken samples with any of the above-described tools. Instead, the elongated formation samples obtained with these tools will generally be recovered in the form of short pieces of unpredictable and random lengths. This, of course, does not affect the quality of the samples so long as the various segments recovered can be reassembled to provide fairly representative samples.

Experience has shown, however, that it is not at all uncommon for such irregular segments of these elongated formation samples to become lodged within a sampling tool in such a manner that .the remaining pieces of that sample or subsequent samples'cannot enter the sample receiver. This will, of course, result in a partially or totally unsuccessful sampling operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to pro vide new and improved formation-sampling apparatus for collecting one or more formation samples from earth formations traversed by a borehole and reliably depositing these samples into a sample receiver. y

This and other objects of the present invention are attained by providing formation-sampling apparatus with means adapted for selectively collecting one or more samples from selected earth formations and a receiver adapted to contain these samples. To facilitate movement of the samples into the receiver, the formation-sampling apparatus further includes means for selectively agitating or vibrating the collected samples to insure that no portion thereof can become lodged within the apparatus before coming to rest in the sample receiver.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by way of the following description of exemplary apparatus employing the principles of the invention as il-.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view showing a portion of the tool depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of one element depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2A but showing in more detail a preferred embodiment of sample-impelling means arranged in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the sample-agitating means depicted in FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are slightly-enlarged cross-sectional views taken along their respectively-designated section lines shown in FIG. 6.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a formation-sampling tool 10 including sample-agitating means 11 arranged in accordance with the present invention 'is shown suspended from a cable 12 in a borehole 13 and in position for formation-collecting means, such as a pair of converging similar cutting wheels 14, to selectively remove an elongated sample 15 from the exposed face of an earth formation 16 for depositing a sample receiver 17 therebelow. Suitable circuitry 18 (such as described in a copending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 649,978 filed June the surface by way of electrical conductors in the suspension cable 12.

A pair of pistons 19 are also arranged for selectively extending a wall-engaging anchor 20 on the rear of the tool 10 against one side of the borehole 13 to laterally shift the sampling tool in the opposite direction. To actuate the wall-engaging member 20 from the surface, a pump 21 is arranged to selectively pump hydraulic fluid into piston chambers either behind or ahead of the pistons 19. By maintaining an in creased hydraulic pressure behind the pistons 19, the anchor 20 will, therefore, urge the forward face of the tool 10 against the opposite wall of the borehole 13 with sufficient force to anchor the tool in a selected position.

The cutting wheels 14 are mounted in converging vertical planes and rotatively driven about outwardly-diverging axes lying generally in the same horizontal plane. The peripheral edges of thecutting wheels 14 all but intersect so that, when extended and selectively moved upwardly through a longitudinal opening 22 in the forward wall of the tool housing 23, the rotating wheels will cut away a generally wedge-shaped or triangular prismatic sample (as at 15) from the adjacent face of the formation 16.

The receiver 17 in the lowermost portion of the tool 10 includes means for reliably segregating a selected number of formation samples from one another. As described in the firstmentioned Urbanosky application, in one manner of arranging the sample receiver 17 a plurality of upright tubes are sequentially positioned to respectively receive successively-collected formation samples as the tool 10 is operated. As an alternate, the sample receiver 17'can also be arranged as described in the last-mentioned Urbanosky application and as illustrated in subsequently-described drawings. In this latter arrangement, a plurality of upright partitions or transverse dividers (not shown in FIG. 1) are uniquely arranged for selectively isolating the formation samples as they are collected. In either instance, therefore, the tool 10 can be efficiently employed on a single trip in the borehole 13 to recover one or more forma' tion samples that will be individually segregated in the sample receiver 17 in predetermined positions.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 28, a somewhatschematic representation is shown of the tool 10 including a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 2A, the cutting wheels 14 are carried by a longitudinally-movable enclosure 24 having a pair of upright tubular members 25 (only one seen in FIG. 2A) mounted on its rear wall and slidably disposed about substantially longer rods 26 (only one seen in FIG. 2A) secured at their upper and lower ends and extending longitudinally along the rear wall of the tool housing 23. The

opposite ends of the tubular members 25 are slidably sealed around these rods 26 and a piston member 27 (only one seen in FIG. 2A) is fixed at an intermediate position on each of the elongated rods to define separate fluidtight chambers 28 and 29 within the internal bore of its associated tubular member.

Accordingly, by developing a higher fluid pressure in the upper chambers 28 than that in the lower chambers 29, the enclosure 24 will be moved longitudinally upwardly along the elongated rods 26 in relation to the stationary tool housing 23. Similarly, by imposing a higher pressure in the lower chambers 29, the enclosure 24 will travel longitudinally downwardly along the rods 26. A suitable hydraulic pump 30 is mounted within the enclosure 24 and appropriately arranged to selectively pump hydraulic fluid'to the chambers 28 and 29 upon command from the surface as required to shift the enclosure back and forth along the elongated rods 26.

An electric motor 31 in the enclosure 24 is operatively connected by a universal joint to a right-angle gear drive 32 having outwardly-diverging shafts at an angle to one another for rotatively driving the cutting wheels. A pair of depending arms, as at 33, are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the motor enclosure 24 for supporting the gear drive 32 secured to their lower ends.

To control the lateral movements of the cutting wheels 14, outwardly-biased guide pins 34 (only one seen in FIG. 2A) mounted near the lower ends of each of the pivoted arms 33 are slidably disposed in a system of guide grooves 35 (only one system seen in FIG. 2A) formed in the interior side walls of the tool housing 23 on opposite sides of the longitudinal opening 22 therein. These groove systems 35 are arranged so that upward travel of the motor enclosure 24 from its full-line position to its dashed-line position will be effective (through the coaction of the guide pins 34 in their respective groove systems) to direct the cutting wheels 14 along the path A-B-C- D. Accordingly, as'the cutting wheels 14 move along the path A-B-C-D, they will be cutting away a prismatic sample, as at 15, with tapered ends from the formation 16 for subsequent deposit in the core receiver 17 therebelow. When the enclosure 24 has reached its uppermost position, the groove systems 35 are preferably arranged to return the cutting wheels 14 downwardly back through their respective kerfs which they previously cut into the formation 16 to dislodge the formation sample should it still be in the complementary cavity cut in the formation.

As seen in FIG. 28, a plurality of upright transverse dividers 3638 in the sample receiver 17 are selectively positioned in response to the cyclical movements of the motor enclosure 24 for successively collecting and segregating the formation samples once they pass through a sample passage 39 communicating the access opening 22 with the upper end of the receiver. To accomplish this, the dividers 3638 are initially positioned (as partially shown in FIG. 3) along the rear wall of the housing 23 and releasably retained in this position by a somewhat U-shaped latch 40 arranged for controlled vertical travel relative thereto. Thus, when the first formation sample is cut away by the cutting wheels 14, it will pass through the housing opening 22 and passage 39 and come to rest on the forward face of the first divider 36.

As best seen in FIG. 3, to successively release the dividers in response to subsequent cyclical operations of the tool 10, the upper ends of the dividers 36-38 are reduced in width, as at 41-43, at progressively-higher points. By progressively moving the U-shaped latch 40 upwardly to each of these shoulders 4l43 in turn, a number of U-shaped springs, as at 44, respectively biasing the dividers 36-38 will sequentially shift the reduced upper ends of the dividers forwardly between the inwardly-turned opposed fingers 45 of the latch. Thus, although upward travel of the latch 40 will ultimately be effective to release all of the dividers 36-38, only one divider will be released at a time and the other dividers will be retained against the rear wall of the housing 23 until the latch has been shifted further upwardly by subsequent operations of the tool l0.

To control the longitudinal travel of the latch 40, a vertical spindle shaft 46 is journaled between longitudinally-spaced bearings 47 and 48 mounted on the rear wall of the housing 23 just below the latch. A somewhat-resilient cam follower 49 dependently secured to the latch 40 is extended downwardly along side the spindle and cooperatively guided by a system of zigzagged or alternating cam grooves 50 formed around the rotatable spindle 46 and providing progressively-higher cam stops 51-53 respectively spaced in correspondence with the progressively-higher shoulders 41-43 on the dividers 36-38.

As fully described in the last-mentioned Urbanosky application and schematically represented in FIG. 5, the alternating cam-guiding system 50 includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinal grooves having their upper ends located at progressively-higher positions on the vertical spindle 46 to provide the stops 51-53 and a plurality of downwardly-inclined grooves respectively interconnecting the upper end of each longitudinal groove to the lower end of the next-adjacent and higher longitudinal groove. In this manner, an alternating but continuous path is defined around the spindle 46 that begins at the lowermost longitudinal groove and zigzags upwardly on around the spindle to the uppermost longitudinal groove and is completed by the final inclined groove which extends downwardly from the upper end of the uppermost longitudinal groove back to the lower end of the lowermost longitudinal groove. Shoulders, as at 54 and 55, are appropriately located across the exit of each of the grooves on the spindle 46 to assure that the cam follower 49 will progressively move around the spindle along the zigzagged path 50.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that successive reciprocating movements of the latch 40 will progressively shift its depending cam follower 49 on through the spindle grooves 50 to progressively halt the latch at a successively-higher elevation as determined by the upper ends of the longitudinal spindle grooves. Accordingly, by spacing the divider shoulders 41- -43 to correspond with the vertical spacing of the spindle stops 51-53, successive reciprocations of the latch 40 will sequentially release the dividers 3638 as the latch is progressively raised above the shoulders.

To selectively reciprocate the latch in response to the cyclical operations of the sample-collecting means 14, an upright actuating member 56 is secured to the latch and slidably guided in a guide 57 on the rear wall of the housing 23. An actuator rod 58 depending from the motor enclosure 24 (FIG. 2A) is provided with an enlarged lower end 59 that is adapted to be selectively received by a plurality of upwardly-extending yieldable collet fingers 60 on the upper end of the actuating member 56. Accordingly, upon each upward travel of the enclosure 24, the actuator rod 58 will pull the depending cam follower 49 (as well as the actuating member 56 and latch 40) upwardly until it is halted when it reaches the top of the longitudinal spindle groove it is then in. Once these members are halted, the continued upward travel of the enclosure 24 will pull the enlarged rod head 59 out of the yieldable collet fingers 60 and friction will retain the latch 40 in its elevated position. Then, as the motor enclosure 24 nears the end of each downwardmovement, the enlarged rod head 59 will again contact the collet 60 and push the actuating member 56 downwardly until it is halted when the cam follower 49 reaches the bottom of the next-adjacent longitudinal spindle groove. Once the actuating member 56 is halted, continued downward travel of the motor enclosure 24 will push the enlarged rod head 59 back into engagement with the collet fingers.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the unique arrangement of the sampling tool 10 will permit multiple formation samples to be successively collected and reliably segregated in the receiver 17 for subsequent recovery and examination at the surface. As previously mentioned, however, there is al ways the distinct possibility that one or more fragments of any of these samples can be inadvertently lodged at some intermediate point, such as in the sample passage 39, between the access opening 22 and the receiver 17. Accordingly, as best present invention are preferably adapted to impart a shaking or vibratory motion along the length of the sample passage 39 for impelling movement of the samples on'into the receiver 17. In this manner, the present invention assures that once any portion of a formation sample enters the longitudinal opening 22, it will be subjected to sufficient agitation that it will continue to move downwardly through the passage 39 and on into its intended position in the sample receiver 17.

To accomplish this, the sample-agitating means 11 of the present invention is comprised of a sample-contacting member that is movably disposed in the sample passage 39 and operatively supported forcontrolled movement therein. In its preferred embodiment, the sample-contacting member 61 is formed as an upright plate that is complementally fitted along one or more of the vertical side walls of the sample passage 39 for verticalmotion in relation thereto. Inasmuch as the transverse cross section of thedepicted passage 39 is basically rectangular, the upright member 61 is preferably a generally L-shaped or dihedral plate with its outstanding portions respectively overlaying adjacent side walls of the sample passage. For reasons that will subsequently become apparent, the vertical height'of the dihedral plate 61 is suitably proportioned to allow freevertical reciprocation of the plate back and forth ov'er'a selected spanof travel within the passage 39.

To support the dihedral plate 61 for longitudinal reciprocating movement in relation to the passage 39, the plate is secured to the lower end of an elongated rod 62 that is vertically mounted for reciprocating movement along the rear wall of the housing 23: In thepreferred embodiment illustrated, the

upper and lower end portions of the elongated rod 62 are travel determined by the relative longitudinal spacings between the various movable elements of the sample-agitating means 11 and their respectively-associated fixed elements on the housing 23.

In the preferred manner'of imparting reciprocating motion to the movable elements of the sample agitatingmeans 11, a

plurality of irregularities, such as a series of outstanding shoulders 69, are formed at longitudinally-spaced intervals along the elongated rod 62. Since the elongated rod 62 is mounted adjacent to and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of travel of the motor enclosure 24, a somewhat-resilient rod contacting member70 is secured to the motor enclosure and adapted to slide adjacent to or along the rod. In its .preferred form, the rod-contacting member 70 is arranged as a tubular 1 body 71 coaxially disposed around the elongatedrod 62 andhaving one or more depending somewhat-yieldable collet fingers 72 with inwardly-turned lower ends as at 73.

Accordingly, itwill be appreciated that upward travel of the motor enclosure 24'will carry therod-contacting member 70 1 upwardlyin relation to the elongated rod 62.-As the inwardlyturned ends 73 of the yieldable collet fingers 72 successively encounter the lower face of each of the outstanding projections 69 on the. rod 62, the upward travel of the motor encloi sure 24 will elevate the'elongated rod-and compress the lower spring 66 until the correspondingly-developed spring force urging the rod downwardly is sufficient to forcethe coengaged Once the motor enclosure 24 has reached its upper limit of traveland beginsto return downwardly, the-same action will be repeated but in the opposite direction. Thus, each time the downwardly-moving rod-engaging member 70 contacts the upper face of one of the rod projections 69, the rod 62 will be initially moved downwardly to compress the upper spring 65. l-Iereagain once the developed compressive spring force is sufficient to separate the yieldable fingers 72, the released spring rod projection from engagement with the yieldable fingers.

Thus, one the coengaged projection 69 is released from the rod-contacting member 70, the force developed by the spring 66 will forcibly drivethe rod 62downwardly. This successive upward movement and downward snap of the rod 62 will, of course, be repeated each time the rod-engaging member contacts one of the rod projections 69 during the course of the upward travel of the motor enclosure 24.

65 will snap the elongatedrod 62 back'upwardly. It will be recognized, of course, that the upper and lower coacting faces of the rod shoulders 69 and the inwardly-turned finger ends 73 are appropriately configured to initially shift the rod 62 before the yieldable fingers 72 are camme'd outwardly to release the rod in either direction of travelof the motor enclosure 24.

Accordingly, it will be recognized that the upward and downward travel of the motor enclosure 24 will be effective to repetitively vibrate the elongated rod 62 and, of course, induce a corresponding movement in the dihedral plate 61 secured thereto. In this manner, whenever the cutting wheels 14 are operatively collecting a formation sample, the sampleagitating means 11 of the present invention will be cooperatively producing an agitative or vibratory motion in the sample passage 39 that is effectiveto prevent the lodgement of formation samples therein and impelling their movement on into the receiver 17. h

For example, assume that a fragment of a sample, as at 74, inadvertently turns sideways in the sample passage 39. Although one end of the sample fragment 74 will be in contact with one of the side walls of the passage 39, the other end of the fragment must contact some portion of the dihedral plate 61. Thus, the continued reciprocation and periodically-recurring jarring movements of the dihedral plate 61 will quickly shake even a tightly-lodged fragment 74 free so that it can fall freely on into the sample receiver 17 therebelow. Most likely, the repetitive and irregular shaking movements of the dihedral plate 61 will be sufficie'nt to impel continued movement of such sample fragments without them ever being lodged in the passage 39.

Accordingly, although changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the principles of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides new and improved means for reliably collecting samples of earth formations traversed by a borehole. By imparting agitative or vibratory movement to any sample fragments that might otherwise become inadvertently lodged in a passage as these samples move through the sampling apparatus, the impelling means of the present invention has assured that samplescollected by the apparatus will be reliably deposited in a sample receiver for subsequent examination.

I claim:

1. Formation-samplingapparatus.for obtaining samples of earth formations traversed by a borehole and comprising: sample-collecting means adapted for suspension in a borehole and selectively operable from the surface for obtaining a sample of an earth formation adjacent thereto; a sample receiver adapted for containing a formation sample obtained by said sample-collecting means; and means operatively arranged between said sample-collecting means and said sample receiver and operable in response to operation of said samplecollecting means for impelling movement of a formation sample obtained by said sample-collecting means into said sample receiver. a

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means defining a passage having spaced side walls adapted to conduct a formation sample from said sample-collecting means into said sample receiver; and wherein said sample-impelling means further include a member disposed in sample-conducting passage adjacent to at least one of said side walls and adapted for reciprocating movement along said one side wall, actuating means operatively coupling said reciprocating member and said sample-collecting means for repetitively reciprocating said reciprocating member upon operation of said samplecollecting means, and means responsive to reciprocation of said reciprocating member for imparting repetitive jarring shocks thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means defining a passage between said sample-collecting means and said sample receiver adapted to conduct a formation sample from said sample-collecting means into said sample receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sample-impelling means include a member movably disposed in said sampleconducting passage, and means operatively engaged with said movable member and responsive to operation of said samplecollecting means for vibrating said member in relation to said sample-collecting passage.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means defining a passage having spaced side walls adapted to conduct a formation sample from said sample-collecting means into said sample receiver; and wherein said sample-impelling means further include a member disposed in said sample-conducting passage adjacent to at least one of said side walls and adapted for movement along said one side wall, and actuating means operatively coupling said movable member and said samplecollecting means for moving said movable member upon operation of said sample-collecting means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actuating means include means for repetitively reciprocating said movable member upon operation of said sample-collecting means.

7. Formation-sampling apparatus for obtaining samples of earth formations traversed by a borehole and comprising: a support adapted for suspension in a borehole; formationcutting means on said support and selectively movable from the surface between longitudinally-spaced positions on said support for cutting away a sample from an earth formation adjacent thereto; a sample receiver on said support and having an opening adapted for admitting a formation sample cut away by said formation-cutting means; and sample-agitating means operatively arranged on said support and responsive to travel of said formation-cutting means between said longitudinallyspaced positions for repetitively imparting a shaking action to a formation sample disposed between said opening and said formation-cutting means.

8. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sample-agitating means are comprised of: a sample-contacting member movably mounted on said support for reciprocation adjacent to said opening; and actuating means operatively coupling said sample-contacting member and said formation-cutting means for repetitively reciprocating said sample-contacting member upon travel of said formation-cutting means between said longitudinally-spaced positions.

9. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sample-agitating means are comprised of: a sample-contacting member movably mounted on said support for reciprocation adjacent to said opening; an actuating member connected to said sample-contacting member and movably mounted on said support for reciprocation adjacent to said formation-cutting means; means operatively coupling said actuating member and said formation-cutting means for repetitively reciprocating said sample-contacting member upon travel of said formation-cutting means between said longitudinally-spaced positions; and spring means operatively arranged on said formation-sampling apparatus to be alternately energized upon reciprocating movements of said sample-contacting member in one direction and released upon reciprocating movements of said sample-contacting member in the opposite direction for repetitively imparting a jarring force to said reciprocating sample-contacting member.

10. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sample-agitating means are comprised of: a sample-contacting member movably mounted on said support for longitudinal reciprocation adjacent to said opening; and means responsive to longitudinal travel of said formation-cutting means for repetitively reciprocating said sample-cutting member including an elongated rod connected to said samplecontacting member and movably mounted on said support for longitudinal reciprocation adjacent to said formation-cutting means, a plurality of abutments longitudinally spaced along said elongated rod, and means including an outstanding member on said formation-cutting means adapted for alternate engagement and disengagement with each of said abutments in turn torepetitively move said elongated rod in first one, longitudinal direction and then in the opposite longitudinal direction. 7

11. The formation-sampling. apparatus of claim 10 further including means operatively engaged with said elongated rod and responsive to movement thereof in said one longitudinal direction for forcibly returning said elongated rod in said opposite longitudinal direction to repetitively impart a jarring action to said sample-contacting member.

12. Formation-sampling apparatus for obtaining samples of earth formations traversed by a borehole and comprising: a support adapted for suspension in a borehole; selectivelyoperable formation cutting means movably mounted on said support for travel between first and second longitudinallyspaced positions on said support for cutting away an elongated sample of corresponding length from an earth formation adjacent thereto; a sample receiver on said support below said formation-cutting means and adapted to contain an elongated sample obtained thereby, means defining a passage on said support adapted to conduct an elongated sample obtained by said formation-cutting means downwardly into said sample receiver; and means operable in response to travel of said formation-cutting means and adapted for vibrating an elongated sample passing through said passage to impel its continued downward movement on into said sample receiver.

13. The formation-sampling apparatus os claim 12 wherein said formation-cutting means are selectively movable upwardly and downwardly between said longitudinally-spaced positions and said sample-vibrating means are operable in response to both upward and downward travel of said formation-cutting means.

14. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sample-vibrating means include: an elongated member mounted longitudinally along said support between said longitudinally-spaced positions and adapted for reciprocating movement relative to said support between upper and lower positions; means on said formation-cutting means and said elongated member and repetitively operable upon upward travel of said formation-cutting means for alternately raising said elongated member to its said upper position and then releasing said elongated member for return to its said lower positions; and sample-contacting means movably disposed in said passage and connected to said elongated member for repetitive movement thereby as said elongated member is reciprocated between its said upper and lower positions.

15. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 14 further including spring means operatively mounted between said support and said elongated member and adapted to be energized upon raising of said elongated member for forcibly urging said elongated member to its said lower position upon release of said elongated member.

. 16. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sample-vibrating means include: an elongated member mounted longitudinally along said support between said longitudinally-spaced positions and adapted for reciprocating movement relative to said support between upper and lower positions; means on said formation-cutting means and said elongated member and repetitively operable upon downward travel of said formation-cutting means for alternately lowering said elongated member to its said lower position and then releasing said elongated member for return to its said upper position; and sample-contacting means movably disposed in said passage and connected to said elongated member for repetitive movement thereby as said elongated member is reciprocated between its said upper and lower positions.

17. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 16 further including spring means operatively mounted between said support and said elongated member and adapted to be enerearth formations traversed by a borehole and comprising: a

support adapted for suspension in a borehole; selectivelyoperable formatiomcutting means movably mounted on said support for cyclical travel upwardly and downwardly between first and second longitudinally-spaced positions on said support for cutting away an elongated sample of corresponding length from an earth formation adjacent thereto; a sample.

receiver on said support below said formation-cutting means and adapted to contain an elongated sample obtained thereby; means defining a passageon said support adapted to conduct an elongated sample obtained by said formation-cutting means downwardly into said sample receiver; a member movably disposed insaid passage and adapted for longitudinal movement therein to agitate a formation sample disposed within said passage; an elongated rod connected to said movable member and extended upwardly therefrom along said support; a yieldable member mounted on said formation-cutting means and adapted tobe carried upwardly and downwardly thereby along said elongated rod;.means defining a plurality of longitudinally-spaced downwardly-facing shoulders on said elongated rod respectively adapted to be releasably engaged by said yieldable member upon upward travel of said formation-cutting means to repetitively elevate said movable member in said passage; and spring means operatively energi zed upon each successive elevation of said elongated rod to repetitively urge said elongated rod downwardly for successively disengaging said yieldable member from said;

downwardly-facing shoulders and repetitively driving said elongated rod upwardly after each elevation thereof to impart a vibratory motion to said movable member as said formationcutting means travel upwardly.

19. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 18 further including means defining a plurality of longitudinally-spaced upwardly-facing shoulders on said elongated rod respectively adapted to be releasably engaged by said yieldable member upon downward travel of said formation-cutting means to repetitively depress said movable member in said passage; and spring means operatively energized upon each successive depression of said elongated rod to repetitively urge said elongated rod upwardly for successively disengaging said yieldable member from said upwardly-facing shoulders and repetitively driving said elongated rod upwardly after each depression thereof to impart a vibratory motion to said movable member as said formation-cutting'means travel downwardly.

20. The formation-sampling apparatus of claim 18 wherein said passage has upright side walls and said movable member is a flat plate adjacent and generally parallel to at least one of said side walls. 

